15 Bible verses to pray for someone who is grieving

Grief.

It’s personal, it’s painful, and it’s unpredictable. It’s also a necessary process for healing, whether we’re grappling with the loss of a loved one or adjusting after a change that might not seem significant to others, but still resonates deep within us.

Then there are times when our heart breaks because of the pain someone else is going through. Someone we care about is shattered by grief, overwhelmed, and struggling to fight through each new day.

How can we help?

We can mail the card, send the text, make the call. We can cook the food, give the hug, hold the hand. These are all good things and are important to do. They’re ways to show physical support, they’re tangible ways to show we care.

But in most cases, we can’t cook them dinner every night and we aren’t always there to give them physical support. How can we continue to be there for them when we can’t be there with them?

Cards, texts and phone calls don’t lose value, even when they’re sent months later. Those are always good to share; sometimes they’re more special months later because they show we’re still thinking about that person.

But the very best thing we can do for someone who’s grieving is to pray.

That might sound trite or too much like a cookie cutter answer to some people, but it’s the truth. The beauty of prayer is that it comes in all shapes and sizes. Every prayer we say is heard. Every prayer we say is important.

When we couple our prayers with Scripture, they become even more powerful.

Here are 15 Bible verses you can include in your prayers for someone who is grieving.

1. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
2. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
3. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
4. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
5. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (Luke 6:21)
6. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)
7. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
8. My Lord definitely won’t reject forever. Although He has caused grief, He will show compassion in measure with his covenant loyalty. (Lamentations 3:31-32)
9. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. (John 16:22)
10. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
11. Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)
12. My groaning has worn me out. At night my bed and pillow are soaked with tears. (Psalm 6:6)
13. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. (Psalm 25:16-17)
14. Jesus wept. (John 11:35)
15. But we do not want you to be uninformed about believers who have died so that you will not grieve like people who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

You might want to personalize these verses in your prayer. For example, for Matthew 5:4 you might pray, “Lord, you promised that those of us who mourn are blessed because we’ll be comforted. ____ doesn’t feel very blessed now. She’s more brokenhearted than she ever thought possible. Please comfort her, support her, and bless her in ways she’ll see and thank you for later.”

Or for John 11:35, “Jesus, we’re so thankful that you understand everything we go through. You wept and grieved for Lazarus just like _____ grieves for _____. Remind her that you’re near – that you care and understand. Bring her peace and comfort like only you can.”

As hard as grief is, as Christians we know that there is hope on the other side. Our prayers — no matter how insignificant they might seem — can help someone push through their grief toward that hope. What a beautiful gift that is to share.

Do you have other Scriptures or other ways you pray for someone who is grieving?

Leave a comment below so we can share some hope with each other.

 

15 Bible verses you can include in your prayers for someone who is grieving. #encouragement #prayer #wordsofhope Click To Tweet As hard as grief is, as Christians we know that there is hope on the other side. Here are 15 Bible verses we can pray to help friends through that time. #encouragement #wordsofhope Click To Tweet